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Contents
📓Chapter 1: Chemical Neurotransmission ........................................................................................ 3
📓Chapter 2 – Transporters, Receptors, and Enzymes as Targets of Psychopharmacological
Drug Action ....................................................................................................................................... 11
📓Chapter 3: Ion Channels as Targets of Psychopharmacological Drug Action ....................... 19
📓 Chapter 4: Psychosis, Schizophrenia, and the Neurotransmitter Networks Dopamine, Serotonin,
and Glutamate .................................................................................................................................... 28
📓Chapter 5: Targeting Dopamine and Serotonin Receptors for Psychosis, Mood, and Beyond:
So-Called “Antipsychotics” .............................................................................................................. 42
📓Chapter 6: Mood Disorders and the Neurotransmitter Networks Norepinephrine and γ-
Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) ............................................................................................................ 54
📓Chapter 7: Treatments for Mood Disorders: So-Called “Antidepressants” and “Mood
Stabilizers”......................................................................................................................................... 63
📓Chapter 8: Anxiety, Trauma, and Treatment ........................................................................... 72
📓Chapter 9: Chronic Pain and Its Treatment ............................................................................. 81
📓Chapter 10: Disorders of Sleep and Wakefulness and Their Treatment: Neurotransmitter
Networks for Histamine and Orexin ............................................................................................... 90
📓Chapter 11: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment ............................. 98
📓Chapter 12: Dementia: Causes, Symptomatic Treatments, and the Neurotransmitter
Network Acetylcholine.................................................................................................................... 110
📓Chapter 13: Impulsivity, Compulsivity, and Addiction ................................................................. 122
,https://www.stuvia.com/
📓Chapter 1: Chemical Neurotransmission
1. Which of the following correctly describes the sequence of events in
chemical neurotransmission?
A. Neurotransmitter synthesis → receptor binding → action potential
→ reuptake
B. Action potential → vesicle fusion → neurotransmitter release →
receptor binding
C. Receptor binding → neurotransmitter release → vesicle fusion →
reuptake
D. Neurotransmitter release → action potential → reuptake → receptor
activation
✅ Correct Answer: B
📚Rationale: An action potential triggers vesicle fusion, which
releases neurotransmitters into the synapse. These then bind to
receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
2. What enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine in the
synaptic cleft?
A. Monoamine oxidase
B. Catechol-O-methyltransferase
C. Acetylcholinesterase
D. Dopamine β-hydroxylase
✅ Correct Answer: C
📚Rationale: Acetylcholinesterase rapidly breaks down acetylcholine
in the synaptic cleft to terminate its action.
3. Which of the following neurotransmitters is primarily excitatory in the
CNS?
A. GABA
B. Glycine
C. Serotonin
D. Glutamate
✅ Correct Answer: D
📚Rationale: Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in
the brain.
4. Which type of receptor leads to the fastest postsynaptic response?
A. Metabotropic receptor
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B. Ionotropic receptor
C. G protein-coupled receptor
D. Nuclear receptor
✅ Correct Answer: B
📚Rationale: Ionotropic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that
act rapidly when activated.
5. What is the role of the synaptic vesicle transporter?
A. Synthesize neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft
B. Load neurotransmitters into vesicles
C. Reuptake neurotransmitters into the presynaptic neuron
D. Break down neurotransmitters in the vesicle
✅ Correct Answer: B
📚Rationale: Synaptic vesicle transporters load neurotransmitters into
vesicles for release.
6. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is primarily involved in:
A. Inhibiting reuptake
B. Promoting vesicle release
C. Enzymatic degradation
D. Receptor sensitization
✅ Correct Answer: C
📚Rationale: MAO degrades monoamines such as serotonin,
dopamine, and norepinephrine.
7. Which of the following would most directly block neurotransmission?
A. Blocking autoreceptors
B. Enhancing reuptake
C. Inhibiting vesicle docking
D. Increasing synaptic cleft enzymes
✅ Correct Answer: C
📚Rationale: Inhibiting vesicle docking prevents neurotransmitter
release.
8. Which ion influx is most responsible for vesicle fusion and
neurotransmitter release?
A. Sodium
B. Chloride
C. Potassium
D. Calcium
,https://www.stuvia.com/
Contents
📓Chapter 1: Chemical Neurotransmission ........................................................................................ 3
📓Chapter 2 – Transporters, Receptors, and Enzymes as Targets of Psychopharmacological
Drug Action ....................................................................................................................................... 11
📓Chapter 3: Ion Channels as Targets of Psychopharmacological Drug Action ....................... 19
📓 Chapter 4: Psychosis, Schizophrenia, and the Neurotransmitter Networks Dopamine, Serotonin,
and Glutamate .................................................................................................................................... 28
📓Chapter 5: Targeting Dopamine and Serotonin Receptors for Psychosis, Mood, and Beyond:
So-Called “Antipsychotics” .............................................................................................................. 42
📓Chapter 6: Mood Disorders and the Neurotransmitter Networks Norepinephrine and γ-
Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) ............................................................................................................ 54
📓Chapter 7: Treatments for Mood Disorders: So-Called “Antidepressants” and “Mood
Stabilizers”......................................................................................................................................... 63
📓Chapter 8: Anxiety, Trauma, and Treatment ........................................................................... 72
📓Chapter 9: Chronic Pain and Its Treatment ............................................................................. 81
📓Chapter 10: Disorders of Sleep and Wakefulness and Their Treatment: Neurotransmitter
Networks for Histamine and Orexin ............................................................................................... 90
📓Chapter 11: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Its Treatment ............................. 98
📓Chapter 12: Dementia: Causes, Symptomatic Treatments, and the Neurotransmitter
Network Acetylcholine.................................................................................................................... 110
📓Chapter 13: Impulsivity, Compulsivity, and Addiction ................................................................. 122
,https://www.stuvia.com/
📓Chapter 1: Chemical Neurotransmission
1. Which of the following correctly describes the sequence of events in
chemical neurotransmission?
A. Neurotransmitter synthesis → receptor binding → action potential
→ reuptake
B. Action potential → vesicle fusion → neurotransmitter release →
receptor binding
C. Receptor binding → neurotransmitter release → vesicle fusion →
reuptake
D. Neurotransmitter release → action potential → reuptake → receptor
activation
✅ Correct Answer: B
📚Rationale: An action potential triggers vesicle fusion, which
releases neurotransmitters into the synapse. These then bind to
receptors on the postsynaptic neuron.
2. What enzyme is responsible for the breakdown of acetylcholine in the
synaptic cleft?
A. Monoamine oxidase
B. Catechol-O-methyltransferase
C. Acetylcholinesterase
D. Dopamine β-hydroxylase
✅ Correct Answer: C
📚Rationale: Acetylcholinesterase rapidly breaks down acetylcholine
in the synaptic cleft to terminate its action.
3. Which of the following neurotransmitters is primarily excitatory in the
CNS?
A. GABA
B. Glycine
C. Serotonin
D. Glutamate
✅ Correct Answer: D
📚Rationale: Glutamate is the principal excitatory neurotransmitter in
the brain.
4. Which type of receptor leads to the fastest postsynaptic response?
A. Metabotropic receptor
, https://www.stuvia.com/
B. Ionotropic receptor
C. G protein-coupled receptor
D. Nuclear receptor
✅ Correct Answer: B
📚Rationale: Ionotropic receptors are ligand-gated ion channels that
act rapidly when activated.
5. What is the role of the synaptic vesicle transporter?
A. Synthesize neurotransmitters in the synaptic cleft
B. Load neurotransmitters into vesicles
C. Reuptake neurotransmitters into the presynaptic neuron
D. Break down neurotransmitters in the vesicle
✅ Correct Answer: B
📚Rationale: Synaptic vesicle transporters load neurotransmitters into
vesicles for release.
6. Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is primarily involved in:
A. Inhibiting reuptake
B. Promoting vesicle release
C. Enzymatic degradation
D. Receptor sensitization
✅ Correct Answer: C
📚Rationale: MAO degrades monoamines such as serotonin,
dopamine, and norepinephrine.
7. Which of the following would most directly block neurotransmission?
A. Blocking autoreceptors
B. Enhancing reuptake
C. Inhibiting vesicle docking
D. Increasing synaptic cleft enzymes
✅ Correct Answer: C
📚Rationale: Inhibiting vesicle docking prevents neurotransmitter
release.
8. Which ion influx is most responsible for vesicle fusion and
neurotransmitter release?
A. Sodium
B. Chloride
C. Potassium
D. Calcium
